Context
The Indian Tea Association (ITA) has sought urgent government intervention to revive the Darjeeling, Dooars and Terai tea industries, which face declining production, climate stress, rising costs and market challenges.
It has proposed financial support, plantation rejuvenation, modernisation and market-protection measures, including a Minimum Sustainable Price for Made Tea and Minimum Import Price for orthodox tea.
About Darjeeling Tea
Darjeeling Tea is a GI-tagged premium orthodox tea grown in the Darjeeling hills of West Bengal, renowned for its distinctive aroma and flavour and known as the “Champagne of Teas.”
Key Facts on Darjeeling Tea
- GI Tag: First Indian product to receive a GI tag (2004).
- Tea type: Predominantly orthodox tea; high-altitude cultivation, cool climate and well-drained soils contribute to its unique quality.
- Challenges: Ageing bushes, climate stress, rising costs, labour issues and competition from Nepalese tea.
- Current issue: Production declined from 14.49 million kg (1990) to 5.6 million kg (2025).
- Revival: Indian Tea Association (ITA) has sought government support for plantation rejuvenation, modernisation and market protection.
Why Revival Roadmap for Darjeeling and Dooars Tea is needed?
- Darjeeling tea production fell from 14.49 million kg (1990) to 5.6 million kg (2025) due to ageing bushes, climate pressures, rising costs, Nepalese imports and weak markets. ITA proposed a ₹113-crore annual package covering orthodox tea, working-capital interest, transport, mechanisation, social security, plantation rejuvenation and factory modernisation; a separate White Paper flags structural, financial, climatic, labour and market challenges.
- Hence ITA seeks Minimum Sustainable Price for Made Tea, Minimum Import Price for orthodox tea, rationalised GST on ready-to-drink tea and enhanced RoDTEP support for exports, alongside integration of revival measures with government schemes.
Decline in Darjeeling Tea Production
- Production Slump: The Darjeeling White Paper highlighted a sharp decline in production, from 14.49 million kg in 1990 to 5.6 million kg in 2025.
- GI Heritage at Risk: The paper called for urgent, targeted intervention to safeguard the globally recognised Geographical Indication (GI) heritage of Darjeeling tea.
- Financial Support Proposed: The ITA proposed an indicative annual financial support package of approximately Rs 113 crore, covering orthodox production, working capital, transport, mechanisation, social security and factory modernisation.
Structural Challenges in Dooars-Terai Tea
- Market Asymmetry: Small tea growers, who account for 68% of the Dooars-Terai region’s production, operate without the statutory welfare obligations that organised estates must bear in full, including housing, healthcare and compliance costs.
- Dual-Cost Environment: This asymmetry creates a dual-cost environment that depresses auction prices and threatens the survival of the organised sector.
Government Engagement and Policy Roadmap for Revival of Darjeeling and Dooars Tea
- Stakeholder Consultations: ITA representatives met West Bengal’s Industry Minister, Finance Minister, and the Chief Minister’s adviser to discuss the crisis facing the two tea-growing regions.
- Roadmap for Revival: The White Papers propose structural, financial, climatic, labour and market-related interventions aimed at restoring competitiveness, strengthening sustainability, protecting livelihoods and promoting long-term investment.
INDIAN TEA ASSOCIATION (ITA)
Indian Tea Association (ITA) is one of India’s oldest and leading tea-industry associations, representing tea producers and plantation interests.
Key Facts
- Established: 1881
- Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal
- Role: Represents tea producers on issues related to production, labour, trade, taxation, exports and government policy.
Primarily it is associated with tea plantations in Assam, West Bengal and other major tea-growing regions.
| Important CTC from this article for UPSC Darjeeling Tea |
Q. Consider the following statements:
I. Darjeeling tea has been accorded a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
II. Small tea growers account for the majority of production in the Dooars-Terai tea-growing region.
III. The Indian Tea Association's White Papers were released jointly with the Tea Board of India as the sole implementing authority.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) I and II only
(b) I and III only
(c) II and III only
(d) I, II and III
Answer: (a) I and II only
Explanation
Statement I is Correct: Darjeeling tea carries a globally recognised GI tag, which the White Paper flagged as being at risk from the sharp decline in production.
Statement II is Correct: Small tea growers account for 68% of production in the Dooars-Terai region, exceeding output from organised estates.
Statement III is Incorrect: The White Papers were published by the Indian Tea Association and presented to West Bengal's state government representatives; the source does not indicate the Tea Board of India as a joint or sole implementing authority.